Wollongong veterinary assistant Heather Tedstone didn't know what to make of the dog standing forlornly on the surgery's doorstep."I thought she was waiting for her owner to catch up from the car park," Ms Tedstone said.But the red Hungarian vizsla was alone and further investigation revealed she had come looking for her mate of 12 years, Khaine, a doberman who had been euthanased the day before.It was something the vet staff at Cannon and Ball hadn't seen before."We phoned the owner [Keith Collier] who said Shae had only ever escaped twice from their yard at Mangerton - first when Khaine was brought into the surgery for a lumpectomy in October last year and the second time was when Khaine was euthanased a fortnight ago," Ms Tedstone said.Mr Collier said although he was amazed by Shae's behaviour, he could understand why his ageing, arthritic dog trudged from the Payne St address along busy Crown St to the vet's."Shae and Khaine were mates who had spent all day, every day together for the past 12 years since they were pups," he said."Khaine was the elder by two years and has been there for Shae since the day we brought her home."They got on instantly and loved playing and rumbling on the lawn ... that bond grew stronger as they got older and lasted right through to the end of Khaine's life when he became unwell with lymphoma."Mr Collier said Shae was still quietly pining but the family was trying to help by spending as much time as they could with her."She does a few laps of the yard each day, possibly looking for Khaine but she is gradually returning to her old self." Vet Paul Partland said the interesting aspect was how Shae knew Khaine would be at the surgery and how she located it."I suppose the bond between themselves and owner is because they are pack animals, which has something to do with why they have evolved as man's best friend."He described the incident as one of the most moving moments he'd experienced. "It was also fulfilling in the sense Shae saw our surgery as a place where Khaine, in his condition, would be looked after."